Campaigners: Ritzy BECTU members out campaigning for a Living Wage earlier this year (Picture: Facebook)

Cinema workers celebrating victory in a campaign to adopt the London Living Wage were today hit by news that around a quarter of the workforce is now facing the sack.

Picturehouse Cinemas said that the cost of increasing basic wages at the Ritzy Cinema in Brixton to £8.80 an hour would be absorbed by reducing the number of staff by at least 20, with a redundancy programme starting next month.

Two management posts will be axed along with eight supervisors, three technical staff and other front-of-house workers from its workforce of 93.

BECTU, the union that represents cinema staff, today described the move which follows a year of strikes and negotiations as a “kick in the teeth”.

The union is now preparing to ballot its workers on a further round of strikes at the popular arthouse cinema.

The campaign garnered high-profile support from film-maker Ken Loach and prompted boycotts.

An agreement was reached with BECTU last month to rise to near that amount, but there was further concern over backdating pay.

Bectu official Willy Donaghy today said further strikes were “possible” and was set to meet members later today.

He said: “The duplicity of these people knows no bounds. What they have done as soon as the deal was implemented is to employ an individual with a reputation for being a ‘union blaster’.

“This is payback, without a doubt. I expect our members to be totally outraged by this.”

Campaigners claim the Ritzy is the most successful art-house cinema in the UK and is owned by Picturehouse Cinemas, part of Cineworld, which is the largest cinema chain in Europe and has revenues of more than £400m.

Workers posted on Facebook: “This is nothing short of pure vindictive retaliation because we the workers showed that with determination and collectively, we could effect change to make our lives that tiny bit more comfortable.”

A Picturehouse spokesman said the chain was looking at staff changes to save money after the pay deal was agreed last month.

A spokesman said: “The staff at The Ritzy recently agreed a pay package with Picturehouse Cinemas, which includes substantial pay increases across four years.

“During the negotiation process it was discussed that the amount of income available to distribute to staff would not be increasing, and that the consequence of such levels of increase to pay rates would be fewer people with more highly paid jobs.”

In a letter sent to staff from Picturehouse Cinemas said: “There are currently 93 staff employed at the Ritzy.

“It is anticipated that the redundancies will occur within a period of 90 days beginning towards the end of November. This will mean that more than 20 posts may be made redundant.”